- Welcome
- Campus Maps
- History
- Mission Statement
- Accreditation
- Administration
- Employment
- Human Resources Employment Process FAQ
- Position Vacancies
- Salary Schedule (PDF)
- Employee Benefits
- Paid Holidays
- Employee Handbook (PDF)
- Faculty Handbook (PDF)
- BENCOR Special Pay Plan (PDF)
- Social Security Collection and Usage
- Affordable Care Act Notice (PDF)
- Social Security Disclosure Summary (PDF)
- Tobacco-Free College
- Drug-Free Workplace & Campuses
- Technology Usage Acknowledgment (PDF)
- Employee Safety Manual (PDF)
- SFSC’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (PDF)
- Calendars
- News
- Social Media
- Honoring Our Retirees
- Celebrating Our Trustees
Student speaker Katiana Reyes-Negron (left) with President Fred Hawkins
AVON PARK, Fla. – May 13, 2026 – South Florida State College (SFSC) marked the end of the 2025-26 academic year with its spring Commencement held in two ceremonies on Tuesday, May 12 in the SFSC Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park.
During the 2 p.m. ceremony, SFSC honored the recipients of the Associate in Arts and State of Florida High School Diploma.
Honored during the 5:30 p.m. ceremony were students who earned their Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Teacher Education, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Associate in Science, College Credit Certificates, and Career Certificates.
Opening the ceremonies, Terry Atchley, chair of the SFSC District Board of Trustees, told the graduates, “Your achievement is not just a personal triumph. It is a beacon of hope and possibility for all who will follow in your footsteps. You are the future of this region, this state, and this nation.”
Guest speaker Don Elwell (left) with President Fred Hawkins
In her presentation to fellow graduates during the 2 p.m. ceremony, Katiana Reyes-Negron, who was awarded her Associate in Arts, told how her mother’s death from diabetes and kidney failure inspired her to become an endocrinologist. “My mother made the best of her life,” she said. “She is the reason why I have stuck to this career goal. She is the reason I hope to make a positive impact in pediatric medicine. Throughout life, challenges and obstacles will be inevitable. It’s important to stay positive and turn weakness into strength.”
Special guest speaker for the 2 p.m. ceremony was Don Elwell, chair of the Highlands County Board of County Commissioners and director of marketing and communications for the Alan Jay Automotive Network. He told the graduates, “I want to share a few universal truths I’ve gathered along the way. Growth lives outside the comfort zone: Nothing significant ever happens while you’re feeling perfectly safe and cozy. The Power of showing up: It is the discipline to do the work when no one is watching. Define success on your own terms: Success isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whatever your “why” is, hold onto it tightly.”
Student speaker Heather Drommerhausen (right) with Dr. Mark Bukowski
The 5:30 p.m. ceremony featured student speaker Heather Drommerhausen, who earned her Associate in Arts (AA) after years in the workforce and raising children. She plans to continue her education through SFSC’s Bachelor of Science in Elementary Teacher Education. Addressing the graduates, she said, “Some of you are beginning your journey. Others are beginning again. I have learned this: Dreams delayed are not dreams denied. Responsibilities may pause your journey, but they do not erase your purpose. You are living proof that growth does not have an expiration date. As you move forward, remember this: Make a positive difference. True success is measured not only by titles or incomes, but by the impact we have on others.”
Special guest speaker for the 5:30 p.m. ceremony was Blaise Ingoglia, chief financial officer and fire marshal for the state of Florida. He presented the graduates with five rules. “Learn how to think, not just what to think: The world needs people who can analyze problems, challenge assumptions, and call out hypocrisy when it is needed. Be tenacious: The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t always comes down to how they respond when things don’t go their way. Never listen to the naysayers: Keep believing in yourself, no matter what people say, but appreciate those who were with you on the way to the mountain top. Be fiscally disciplined: The most expensive thing is regret. Remember to give back: Sometimes success is measured by how many others you help along the way.”
Guest speaker Blaise Ingoglia (left) with President Fred Hawkins
When Fred Hawkins, SFSC president, spoke to the graduates, he said, “We come together to honor you, our graduates, and your family and friends. Everyone on this stage is so proud of you and it gives me great pleasure to say to all of you … congratulations on this accomplishment.”
Approximately 601 students met the SFSC requirements by spring Commencement. Of these, 18 received their Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management (BAS-SM), seven received their Bachelor of Science in Elementary Teacher Education (BSETE), eight received their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), 169 received their Associate in Arts, 91 received their Associate in Science, 18 received their State of Florida High School Diploma, 14 received their College Credit Certificate (CCC), and 63 received Career Certificates. Students participating in the Commencement ceremony totaled 388.
Mace bearer and chief marshal for Commencement was Garrett Lee, and marshals were Dolores Breedlove, Marlene Cruz, Kelly Fairfield Dec, Tina Gottus, Courtney Green, Robert Hampton, Candy Jones, Dr. Maday Leon, Michelle Macbeth, Mlisa Manning, Tanna Markel, Sofia Ochoa, Michael Pate, Lena Phelps, and Andrew Polk.
